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Raw data: Labor force participation under Joe Biden

1 year 6 months ago
Here is the growth of the labor force participation rate since Joe Biden took office. This is for prime-age workers (age 25-54). Both men and women are now working at higher rates than at any time since the end of the Great Recession.
Kevin Drum

Rep. Charlie Meier Recalls The 'Cupcake Bill' That Began His Pro-Business Record

1 year 6 months ago
TROY - At the Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce 40th anniversary celebration, State Representative Charlie Meier told the fascinating story behind the “cupcake bill,” the first one he introduced as a representative. 12 years ago in Troy, he said the Madison County Health Department stopped a then-12-year-old Chloe Stirling from giving homemade cupcakes to nursing home residents because they weren’t made “in an inspected kitchen, and people could die.” “This is just crazy,” Meier said of the Health Department response. He then got to work crafting the “cupcake bill” in an effort to prevent such a shutdown from happening again. “We got the bill written … we’re set to go in front of committee, and of course Chloe’s got her box of cupcakes there,” Meier said. The bill faced an uphill battle as it went through a series of hurdles in the House, with Meier adding that 95 healt

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Sputnik Launched 67 Years Ago (Oct. 4) - Soviet Satellite Alarmed the World, Began Space Race

1 year 6 months ago
BUZZ MAGAZINE - It was a round metal object the size of a beach ball, and only weighed 183.9 pounds. Yet it managed to throw a nervous world into a panic. Friday marks the anniversary of the launch of Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite, which was thrust into space by the Soviet Union on Oct. 4, 1957. The launch marked the beginning of the space race and was a landmark in the Cold War between the United States and the Soviets. The launch, just months after Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev’s declaration that “we will bury you,” threw the United States into “near hysteria” in the words of one writer and “political pandemonium” in the words of another. Sputnik was designed to correspond with the International Geophysical Year, set by the International Council of Scientific Unions in 1952 to last from July 1, 1957 to Dec. 31, 1958. In 1955, the U.S. had announced plans for its own satellite. The Soviets, however, beat th

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Amazing Attractions Along Illinois Route 66 - That Are Also Rumored to Be Haunted!

1 year 6 months ago
BUZZ MAGAZINE - October is the month for haunted houses and other historic buildings. And for this year's October issue, I present six outstanding attractions – two historic homes, a prison, two theaters, and a hotel – that are said to have had unearthly happenings. The 300+ miles of Illinois Route 66 offer a treasure trove of historic buildings to visit, and more than a few are said to be haunted. But don't let a rumored ghost or two stop you from visiting these amazing attractions! And, you don't have to visit just at Halloween. When you plan to visit any of these attractions, please check their websites for more information and then observe open hours, fees, and visitor rules Old Joliet Prison - 1125 Collins Street, Joliet Notorious killers Richard Speck, John Wayne Gacy, and “crime of the century” murderers Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb were all housed at the old Joliet Prison, and, of course, it was the fictional home of the Blues Brothers, Jake

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Sputnik Launched 67 Years Ago (Oct. 4) - Soviet Satellite Alarmed the World, Began Space Race

1 year 6 months ago
BUZZ MAGAZINE - It was a round metal object the size of a beach ball, and only weighed 183.9 pounds. Yet it managed to throw a nervous world into a panic. Friday marks the anniversary of the launch of Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite, which was thrust into space by the Soviet Union on Oct. 4, 1957. The launch marked the beginning of the space race and was a landmark in the Cold War between the United States and the Soviets. The launch, just months after Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev’s declaration that “we will bury you,” threw the United States into “near hysteria” in the words of one writer and “political pandemonium” in the words of another. Sputnik was designed to correspond with the International Geophysical Year, set by the International Council of Scientific Unions in 1952 to last from July 1, 1957 to Dec. 31, 1958. In 1955, the U.S. had announced plans for its own satellite. The Soviets, however, beat th

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Amazing Attractions Along Illinois Route 66 - That Are Also Rumored to Be Haunted!

1 year 6 months ago
BUZZ MAGAZINE - October is the month for haunted houses and other historic buildings. And for this year's October issue, I present six outstanding attractions – two historic homes, a prison, two theaters, and a hotel – that are said to have had unearthly happenings. The 300+ miles of Illinois Route 66 offer a treasure trove of historic buildings to visit, and more than a few are said to be haunted. But don't let a rumored ghost or two stop you from visiting these amazing attractions! And, you don't have to visit just at Halloween. When you plan to visit any of these attractions, please check their websites for more information and then observe open hours, fees, and visitor rules Old Joliet Prison - 1125 Collins Street, Joliet Notorious killers Richard Speck, John Wayne Gacy, and “crime of the century” murderers Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb were all housed at the old Joliet Prison, and, of course, it was the fictional home of the Blues Brothers, Jake

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Job growth increased briskly in September

1 year 6 months ago
The American economy gained a brisk 254,000 jobs last month. We need 90,000 new jobs just to keep up with population growth, which means that net job growth clocked in at 164,000 jobs. The headline unemployment rate dropped yet again to 4.1%. Weekly earnings were up a meager 0.9%. Adjusted for inflation that's about -1.5%.
Kevin Drum